citation
(saɪˈteɪʃən)
Forms: 3 citacion, 4 -cioun, 5 -tioun, cytacyon, -ion, (6 scitation, cytacon), 6– citation.
[a. F. citation, ad. L. citātiōn-em n. of action f. citāre to cite.]
1. Law. a. A citing or summoning to a court of justice, a summons; ‘applied particularly to process in the spiritual court’ (Tomlins Law Dict.).
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9718 Þe eiȝteþe was, þat in þe londe citacion non nere Þoru bulle of þe pope of rome. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 283 For þe citacioun of Cesar wente he to Rome. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. iv. (1520) 27 b/2 He wente unto Rome for the cytacyon of the emperoure. 1532 Act 23 Hen. VIII, c. 9. §6 No Archbishop nor Bishop..shall aske demand take or receiue of any of the Kings subiects any Sum or Sums of money for the seale of any Citation. 1660 R. Coke Power & Subj. 217 All summons, citations, and other proces Ecclesiastical. 1863 H. Cox Instit. ii. xi. 569 Ecclesiastical causes commence by citation of the defendant. |
b. The written form of summons, or the document containing it.
| 1530 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxf. 73 John Cottysford..sent a cytacon to..Flemyng. 1593 Nashe Four Lett. Confut. 17, I sawe him make an Apparriter..eate his Citation, waxe and all. 1601 F. Godwin Bps. of Eng. 90 This citation they fixed vpon the high crosse at Canterbury. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xxxiii, [They] left citations for father and daughter to appear before the Court of Commission. |
c. gen. A summons.
| 1622 Fletcher Sp. Curate v. ii, Do you hear that passing-bell? Lop. A strong citation! bless me! |
† 2. Enumeration, recital, mention. Obs. rare—1.
| 1666 G. Harvey Morb. Angl. xxviii. (1672) 82 There remains a citation of such others as indifferently may produce that malady in any other Countrey. |
3. The action of citing or quoting any words or written passage, quotation; in Law, a reference to decided cases or books of authority.
| 1651 Baxter Inf. Bapt. 248 A vain citation of a passage out of my Book of Rest. 1663 Charleton Chorea Gigant. 22 Omitting the citation of the particular Chapter. 1782 Priestley Corrupt. Chr. I. Pref. 13 The citation of authorities. 1863 Geo. Eliot Romola i. xii, Impudent falsities of citation. |
4. concr. A passage cited, a quotation.
| 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. i. 19 These two citations here ensuyng. 1692 Bentley Boyle Lect. ii. 41 Philosophers did frequently adorn and confirm their discourses by citations out of poets. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 119 Virtue..cannot be taught by rhetorical discourses or citations from the poets. 1883 Gladstone in Times 9 June, The noble lord has given us citations of what purported to be telegrams. |
5. Mention in an official dispatch. U.S.
| 1918 in E. S. Farrow Dict. Mil. Terms. 1930 Publishers' Weekly 5 July 11 [He] holds the Congressional Medal of Honor, nine citations and the highest decorations of the Allied Governments. |